Congratulations on your beautiful new smile! You’ve worked so hard and avoided so many sweet, crunchy foods to get here. To ensure that all of the time and sacrifice you put into your smile was worth it, it is very important to wear retainers! The retention phase of your orthodontic treatment is every bit as important as the treatment phase. In this post, we’ll delve into why retainers are crucial for maintaining the results of your orthodontic treatment.
Why Do Teeth Shift?
Your teeth are surrounded by a network of fibers (periodontal ligament) and soft tissues (gums) that take time to adjust to their new position. Depending on the degree of movement, this adaptation period can take years. The periodontal ligament has a memory of sorts, which wants to return your teeth to their original position. Because of this, your teeth will want to move back to where they were initially – we call this “relapse”. The potential for relapse does decrease gradually over time, however it never fully goes away. Significant rotations, spacing, and open bites present some of the highest risks of relapse.
Additionally, natural changes to the position of our teeth occur as we age, such as crowding of the lower front teeth, if they aren’t prevented.
The Role of Retainers
Retainers are custom-made dental appliances designed to hold your teeth in their new positions after orthodontic treatment. Retainers are SUPER important as they help stabilize the teeth and prevent them from relapsing (shifting back to their pre-treatment positions), in addition to preventing natural changes in the position of your teeth as you age. LIFETIME retention of some sort will be necessary if you do not want your teeth to move.
Types of Retainers
Clear Retainers:
- Clear retainers have quickly become the most popular type of orthodontic retainer. These retainers are made of a thin, clear, plastic material that is vacuum-formed over a 3D printed model. These 3D printed models are made from a 3D scan of your mouth taken with our iTero digital scanners. This means that these retainers are very precise in their fit, which is why they are Dr. Bates’ preference.
- Clear retainers are the best removable option for preventing stubborn spacing, crowding, and rotations from coming back.
- Clear retainers help protect your teeth from wear due to nocturnal grinding/clenching habits.
- Clear retainers last around 3-5 years on average, however they can last much longer if you take good care of them. Though they may wear out over time, these retainers are generally less expensive to replace.
- These retainers do not cover your palate and are less bulky. Most patients consider them to be more comfortable.
- Our clear retainers are made out of a premium clear plastic material that is BPA, phthalate, gluten, and latex free.
Fixed Retainers:
- Fixed retainers are bonded to the back of your teeth and are usually made of a thin wire, chain, or strand of braided wire. While these retainers are convenient in that you don’t have to remember to wear them, they do make it more challenging to brush and floss these teeth. They are most commonly placed on the inside of your lower front teeth.
- Fixed retainers can be helpful in preventing stubborn spaces/gaps or significant rotations from coming back. If you started treatment with a large gap in between your front teeth, Dr. Bates will typically recommend a fixed retainer on those teeth at the end of treatment to ensure the gap stays closed.
- When Dr. Bates places a fixed retainer, he always recommends a removable retainer to be worn at night as well. He encourages his patients to view their fixed retainer as simply a helpful addition to their primary removable retainers. This is because fixed retainers do break at times, and many times you won’t even know that it has broken (i.e. glue has come off of a tooth). When this happens, your teeth can move. The removable retainer not only retains the position of ALL of your teeth (not just the teeth with the fixed retainer glued to them) and helps prevent movement of your teeth in the event that your fixed retainer has an issue – which is common.
- Fixed retainers make it more challenging to clean the teeth that they are bonded to and require a bit more effort to brush and floss. For this reason, they are contraindicated in cases of poor oral hygiene.
- Fixed retainers can be irritating to your tongue, especially when they break.
Hawley (traditional) Retainers:
- These are the classic orthodontic retainers. They are typically made of a colorful acrylic material and have a wire bow holding on to the front of your upper and lower teeth.
- While these retainers are often considered to be more durable and can be adjusted slightly, they are more expensive to replace when lost or broken.
- These retainers do not cover the biting/chewing surfaces of your teeth and therefore offer no protection from grinding/clenching.
- Hawley retainers cover the palate, are a bit more bulky, and generally create a slight lisp at first. Some patients find them to be uncomfortable.
- Dr. Bates will recommend these retainers at times, and of course will allow you to choose this type of retainer, however he tends to prefer clear retainers due to their precise fit.
The Importance of Consistency
Consistency is key when it comes to wearing retainers. Retainers are meant to be unforgiving! Due to the precision fit of our retainers, you will notice that they feel very tight if you wear them inconsistently. This tightness is indicative that your teeth have moved slightly, or are trying to move. This is why it is SUPER important to wear your retainers as instructed. Failure to do so WILL result in teeth shifting back towards their original positions, undoing all the hard work of your orthodontic treatment.
The first 1-2 years after your orthodontic treatment are crucial. The relapse potential of your teeth is highest during this time period. Your teeth will ALWAYS want to move back towards their initial position, however the speed at which they try to do so does tend to slightly decrease over time. While this may mean you eventually may be able to get away with skipping a night here or there, we generally recommend nightly retainer wear for life. NIGHT TIME FOR A LIFETIME is our motto for retainer wear after orthodontic treatment.
Long-Term Benefits
While it may be tempting to ditch your retainers once your treatment is complete, remember that wearing them as directed can prevent the need for additional orthodontic work down the road. Implementing retainer wear into your nightly routine can save you from potential headaches (and expenses) in the future.
Conclusion
In conclusion, retainers are an essential part of post-orthodontic care. They help preserve the results of your treatment and ensure that your smile remains straight and beautiful for years to come.
Our team at Bates Family Orthodontics is always happy to provide you with personalized recommendations on the type of retainer(s) that would be best for maintaining your smile. Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions!